The Recycling of Linz-Donawitz (Ld) Converter Slag By Use as a Liming Agent On Pasture Land

Abstract

Slag is a major by-product of the basic oxygen steelmaking converter process (BOS). Methods are being developed to make use of this by-product and large quantities are now employed in agriculture and in the production of aggregates in several European Community (EC) countries. However, a great deal of slag is still either simply discarded or discharged in landfills. This paper reports the effects over a 3-year period on both soil and crops, of the application of Linz-Donawitz (LD) converter slag on pasture land. Comparative studies were performed using different quantities of low phosphorus LD converter slag and fertilizer on land sown with Dactylis glomerata, Trifolium repens and Lolium perenne. The results showed an increase in soil pH and in the availability of Ca and Mg in the soil exchange complex. Aluminium content was reduced. When LD converter slag and fertilizer were applied together, plants were seen to contain the greatest concentrations of nutrients and greater yields were obtained. © 1995 ISWA